Novak and Hill Still Alive After Day 1 of Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (12/6/24) – The University of Wyoming wrestling team participated in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite on Friday inside the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Pokes went a combined 15-18 and have two wrestlers still alive in the consolation bracket.

"It's a really tough tournament, but I feel like there's a lot of room for improvement, and I'm definitely not satisfied," head coach Mark Branch said. "We just have to get a lot better. We have to be tougher in some situations. I hate losing matches we should win and there were a few of those today. There were a few matches we didn't buck up."

No. 13 Joey Novak (197) and No. 21 Jared Hill (157) are the two Cowboys that are still alive in the consolation quarterfinals of their respective brackets. Each picked up a pair of wins Friday and only lost once.

"Joey was a good way to end the day, coming back to beat that guy after only having 30 minutes of rest," Branch said. "I'm glad those two guys are wrestling tomorrow, and they're going to have come ready for some tough matches."

No. 33 Stockton O'Brien (133) led the way in terms of sheer number of wins with three. No. 28 Cole Brooks (141), No. 18 Gabe Willochell (149) and Eddie Neitenbach (184) each picked up a pair of victories Friday.

The Invitational wraps up Saturday. Action begins at 11 a.m.

125: Jack Braman (0-2)

Round of 16: No. 2 Matt Ramos (Purdue) technical fall Braman, 19-1

Consolation of 16 #2: Logan Brzozowski (Harvard) technical fall Braman, 17-2

133: No. 33 Stockton O'Brien (3-2)

Round of 32: O'Brien decision Chase Liardi (Hofstra), 9-6

Round of 16: No. 6 Evan Frost (Iowa State) decision O'Brien, 16-10

Consolation of 16 #2: O'Brien decision Jacob Macatangay (Purdue), 8-4

Consolation of 8 #1: O'Brien sudden victory Micah Roes (Binghamton), 4-1

Consolation of 8 #2: No. 8 Nic Bouzakis (Ohio State) fall O'Brien, :20

141: No. 28 Cole Brooks (2-2)

Round of 32: Brooks major decision Alek VanBebber (Cal Poly), 11-2

Round of 16: No. 7 Tagen Jamison (Oklahoma State) technical fall Brooks, 15-0

Consolation of 16 #2: Brooks major decision Justin Hoyle (Hofstra), 12-4

Consolation of 8 #1: McKenzie Bell (Rider) major decision Brooks, 9-1

149: No. 18 Gabe Willochell (2-2)

Round of 16: No. 20 Steven Alvarez (Rider) decision Willochell, 9-6

Consolation of 16 #2: Willochell major decision Ayden Garver (Oregon State), 14-6

Consolation of 8 #1: Willochell major decision No. 33 Richard Fedalen (Columbia), 10-2

Consolation of 8 #2: No. 13 Colin Realbuto (Northern Iowa) decision Willochell, 13-12

157: No. 21 Jared Hill (2-1)

Round of 32: No. 4 Peyten Kellar (Ohio) decision Hill, 8-3

Consolation of 16 #2: Hill decision No. 20 Colton Washleski (Rider), 8-2

Consolation of 8 #1: Hill decision Nate Wade (Cornell), 5-1

Consolation of 8 #2: Hill medical forfeit No. 10 Trevor Chumbley (Northwestern)

165: Cooper Voorhees (1-2)

Round of 32: No. 33 Mac Church (Virginia Tech) decision Voorhees, 8-2

Consolation of 16 #1: Voorhees decision Kekana Fouret (Oregon State), 3-0

Consolation of 16 #2: Kyle Mosher (Hofstra) decision Voorhees, 11-7

174: Riley Davis (0-2)

Round of 32: Lucas Uliano (Appalachian State) decision Davis, 8-2

Consolation of 16 #2: No. 27 Joseph Walker (Michigan) major decision Davis, 12-2

184: Eddie Neitenbach (2-2)

Round of 32: Dennis Robin (West Virginia) fall Neitenbach, 6:42

Consolation of 16 #2: Neitenbach fall Hunter Perez (Sacred Heart), :51

Consolation of 8 #1: Neitenbach decision Jon Halverson (Northwestern), 5-4

Consolation of 8 #2: No. 4 Bennett Berge (South Dakota State) major decision Neitenbach, 12-2

197: No. 13 Joey Novak (2-1)

Round of 16: Novak decision No. 15 Nick Stemmet (Stanford), 5-1

Quarterfinals: No. 7 Trey Munoz (Oregon State) decision Novak, 5-3

Consolation of 8 #2: Novak decision No. 26 Chase McDaniel (Nebraska), 6-4

HWT: Kevin Zimmer (1-2)

Round of 32: No. 5 Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) technical fall Zimmer, 19-4

Consolation of 16 #2: Zimmer major decision Brendan Gilchrist (Sacred Heart), 12-4

Consolation of 8 #1: No. 14 Cory Day (Binghamton) fall Zimmer, 4:27